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Fifty Verses on the Nature of Consciousness

Fifty Verses on the Nature of Consciousness

by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

It is essential to know how our mind works to help make the practice easier. In 1990, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh composed “Fifty Verses on the Nature of Consciousness”3, making the complex Buddhist teachings on philosophy and psychology more accessible and connected to our daily life. These verses are based on the Twenty and Thirty Verses on the Manifestation of Consciousness (Vijñaptimatrata-vimshatika-karika and Vijñaptimatrata-trimshika-karika), composed by the 4th century Indian Buddhist monk Vasubhandu; and on later works by Indian Buddhist monk Sthiramati (470-550), Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang (600-604), and Chinese Buddhist monk Fazang (643-712).